Views from a United Church of Christ Minister

Friday, October 29, 2010

"Jesus healed the sick, you can stop the cause"

Action Alert from National Council of Churches Eco-Justice Program

Interfaith Statement for Chemical Policy Reform

Toxic chemicals enter and harm our bodies, plants and animals, and natural systems through air and water pollution, and chemicals in household products including cleaners, personal care products, plastic food and drink containers, textiles, and children’s toys. Yet these chemicals are poorly understood and inadequately regulated. The U.S. Government Accountability Office found that only 200 of the more than 80,000 registered industrial chemicals have been tested. Existing chemical policies fail to protect the web of Creation, including the human community.

While all people are at risk, some are more vulnerable. Communities of color and low-income communities suffer disproportionately from pollution caused by current and past industrial activity, waste disposal, heavily-traveled transportation routes, and consumer products containing toxic chemicals. Researchers also warn that toxic chemicals negatively impact children, expectant mothers, and workers.Chemical workers suffer from chemical exposures because of the lack of public data on chemicals they use, unsafe workplaces, and lax enforcement of regulations.

As religious leaders and people of faith and conscience from diverse traditions, we affirm that reforming current chemical policies is vital to protecting people and life on God’s Earth.

Our Shared Call: Four Religious Values

The world’s faith traditions share values which serve as a foundation for ethical decision-making regarding toxic chemicals. Four core values shared by the world’s great traditions are as follows:

All life is to be respected.

People of faith must ensure that air, water, and land – which belong to the Divine - sustain life on Earth.

Society owes justice and care to its most vulnerable people and communities, and to future generations

Our faith traditions call us to protect and promote the health of the human body.

Comments

"Jesus healed the sick, you can stop the cause"

Action Alert from National Council of Churches Eco-Justice Program

Interfaith Statement for Chemical Policy Reform

Toxic chemicals enter and harm our bodies, plants and animals, and natural systems through air and water pollution, and chemicals in household products including cleaners, personal care products, plastic food and drink containers, textiles, and children’s toys. Yet these chemicals are poorly understood and inadequately regulated. The U.S. Government Accountability Office found that only 200 of the more than 80,000 registered industrial chemicals have been tested. Existing chemical policies fail to protect the web of Creation, including the human community.

While all people are at risk, some are more vulnerable. Communities of color and low-income communities suffer disproportionately from pollution caused by current and past industrial activity, waste disposal, heavily-traveled transportation routes, and consumer products containing toxic chemicals. Researchers also warn that toxic chemicals negatively impact children, expectant mothers, and workers.Chemical workers suffer from chemical exposures because of the lack of public data on chemicals they use, unsafe workplaces, and lax enforcement of regulations.

As religious leaders and people of faith and conscience from diverse traditions, we affirm that reforming current chemical policies is vital to protecting people and life on God’s Earth.

Our Shared Call: Four Religious Values

The world’s faith traditions share values which serve as a foundation for ethical decision-making regarding toxic chemicals. Four core values shared by the world’s great traditions are as follows:

All life is to be respected.

People of faith must ensure that air, water, and land – which belong to the Divine - sustain life on Earth.

Society owes justice and care to its most vulnerable people and communities, and to future generations

Our faith traditions call us to protect and promote the health of the human body.

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Views expressed here represent the perspectives of Rev. Currie, as well as reader participants, and may not represent the views of Pacific University, the United Church of Christ’s national offices in Cleveland or any local UCC congregation. External links made from this site should not construe an endorsement. Rev. Currie has no more editorial control over such content than does a public library, bookstore, or newsstand. Such external links are made for informational purposes only.